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Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

In this Feb. 1, 2003 file photo, debris from the space shuttle Columbia streaks across the sky over Tyler, Texas. The Columbia broke apart in flames 200,000 feet over Texas, killing all seven astronauts just minutes before they were to glide to a landing in Florida.

Credit: AP Photo/Scott Lieberman

In this photo, the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia's mission STS-107 take a break from their training regime to pose for the traditional portrait. Seated in front are astronauts Rick D. Husband, left, mission commander; Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist; and William C. McCool, pilot. Standing from left to right are astronauts David M. Brown, Laurel B. Clark, and Michael P. Anderson, all mission specialists; and Ilan Ramon, payload specialist representing the Israeli Space Agency.

Credit: NASA

The crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia for mission STS-107, in the first row, Pilot William "Willie" McCool, left, and Commander Rick Husband, right, second row are Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla, left, and Laurel Clark in the last row, Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon, Payload Commander Michael Anderson and Mission Specialist David Brown walk to the launch pad on Jan. 16, 2003, at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Mission STS-107 was a 16-day scientific mission.

A group of people watch as the Space Shuttle Columbia lifts off on Jan. 16, 2003, at Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Credit: NASA

In this handout photo, the STS-107 crewmembers pose for their traditional in-flight crew portrait in the SPACEHAB Research Double Module (RDM) aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia taken between Jan. 16 and Feb. 1, 2003, in space.

From left to right on the bottom row, wearing red shirts to signify their shift color, are astronauts Kalpana Chawla, Rick D. Husband, Laurel B. Clark and Ilan Ramon. From left to right on the top row, wearing blue shirts, are astronauts David M. Brown, William C. McCool, and Michael P. Anderson. Ramon represents the Israeli Space Agency. This picture was on a roll of unprocessed film later recovered by searchers from the debris of the exploded shuttle.

Credit: NASA

Astronauts on board the Space Shuttle Columbia speak during an interview from space. From left to right are Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon, Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, Commander Rick Husband and Mission Specialist Laurel Clark.

Credit: NASA

In this undated image from video, Mission Specialist David Brown is seen on the flight deck of the Space Shuttle Columbia during mission STS-107.

In this handout image, a view of the Earth is seen featuring the southeastern Mediterranean and northeast Africa/Middle East border photographed by an STS-107 crew member on board the Space Shuttle Columbia between Jan. 16 and Feb. 1, 2003.

This image from NASA video shot by Shuttle Mission Specialist Laurel Clark shows Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla, left, and Commander Rick Husband on the flight deck of the Space Shuttle Columbia shortly before reentry, Feb. 1, 2003, while in space. The 13-minute video was found in the wreckage of the Space Shuttle Columbia near Palestine, Texas five days after the Shuttle broke apart. NASA says the plasma gas seen in the video is normal on all shuttle landings. The tape begins after the de-orbit engine burn and shows the crew preparing to land.

Credit: NASA-TV

This image from NASA video Mission Specialists Laurel Clark smiles on the flight deck of the Space Shuttle Columbia during reentry, Feb. 1, 2003, while in space.

This image from a NASA handout video shows a close up of a piece of debris falling from the external tank, then striking the left wing of the Space Shuttle Columbia during launch on Jan. 16, 2003. NASA officials noticed this piece of debris during lift off of Columbia, but did not consider it a major problem at the time.

Credit: NASA

In this image from NASA-TV video, an object is visible falling from the Space Shuttle Columbia during liftoff on Jan. 16, 2003, from the Kennedy Space Center, at Cape Canaveral, Fla. The area on the Shuttle from which the object fell is highlighted in the red circle near the shuttle's main engines.

Credit: NASA-TV

This NASA handout image shows the Space Shuttle Columbia during reentry as it passes over the Starfire Optical Range, Feb. 1, 2003, at Kirkland Air Force Base, N.M. Shuttle crash investigators have scrutinized this image which some believe shows damage to the left wing of the shuttle.

Credit: NASA

Astronaut Laurel B. Clark, a 41-year-old commander (captain-select) and naval flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy, who served as a mission specialist for Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-107, is shown as she poses for a formal photograph. Commander Clark was making her first spaceflight on board the Space Shuttle Columbia after being selected by NASA in April 1996.

Credit: NASA

Astronaut Ilan Ramon, a NASA mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-107, poses for a formal photograph. Ramon, a colonel in the Israeli Air Force, was NASA's first Israeli astronaut.

Astronaut David M. Brown, a 46-year-old captain in the U.S. Navy, who served as a mission specialist for Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-107, is shown September 25, 2001 as he poses for a formal photograph. Captain Brown was making his first spaceflight onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia after being selected by NASA in April 1996.

Credit: NASA

Astronaut William C. McCool, a 41-year-old commander in the U.S. Navy who served as pilot for Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-107, poses for a formal photograph. Commander McCool was making his first spaceflight onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia after being selected by NASA in April 1996.

Credit: NASA

Astronaut Rick D. Husband, a 45-year-old colonel in the U.S. Air Force and commander for Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-107, poses for a formal photograph.

Credit: NASA

Astronaut Michael P. Anderson, a 43-year-old lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, who served as a payload commander and mission specialist for Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-107, is shown circa 1995 as he poses for a formal photograph. Lieutenant Colonel Anderson was making his second space shuttle spaceflight after being selected by NASA in December 1994.

Credit: NASA

A welcome home celebration poster for the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia is shown on Feb. 1, 2003, in Houston, Texas.

Credit: Brett Coomer/Getty Images

In this NASA handout image, debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia is placed on a grid on March 27, 2003, at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.